Boomers Remain Loyal To Milky Ways, M&Ms

I gave up celebrating Halloween when I got to high school. Cool became more important than candy. Cool did not trick or treat, although cool did miss the candy.

Halloween has changed since baby boomers were canvassing the neighborhood in pursuit of treats. The National Retail Federation says consumers will spend $7.4 billion this year on Halloween costumes, candy and decorations.

Of that total, $400 million will be spent on adult costumes, which is slightly more than the $350 million that will be spent on costumes for pets. I can't decide if this is good news, bad news, or just disturbing.

One thing that has not varied much since days of yore is Halloween candy. Reviewing a list of the Top 45 Halloween treats, as compiled by a website called BuzzFeed, is to find that half those favored were around back in the day when extortion (trick or treat) governed the event.

With the exception of Sun-Maid Raisins, BuzzFeed's rankings gain credibility by not including anything one might construe to be healthy. (As a kid, was there anything more disappointing than having someone drop an apple into your sack?)

Anyway, BuzzFeed's top-rated candy was the Milky Way, of which it could be said the only thing better than a Milky Way was a frozen Milky Way.

Coming in a distant second was the relative newbie, Sour Patch Kids. I have tried Sour Patch Kids. I'd rather have an apple.

Another boomer old favorite pulls in at No. 5, M&Ms, followed by Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (6), and Snickers (11).

York Peppermint Patties (14) scores ahead of Kramer's favorite, Junior Mints (22), which as we know are "very refreshing."

Occupying slots between 18-24 were such classics as Kit Kat (18), Milk Duds (19), Butterfinger (20), and at 21, Nestle Crunch, "what a chunk of chocolate."

While I can see why Candy Corn could be positioned at No. 23, where the ranking goes way off course is in putting the Almond Joy at No. 24, the 3 Musketeers at 29, the Hershey Bar at 33, and Dots at 35.

Here is one baby boomer's Top 10 list of all time best Halloween candy: